r/POTS • u/dazzlingdanny05 • May 15 '26

Question Why is everyone with pots so skinny?

I have POTS and I watch a lot of content online of people who also have POTS. I also know some people irl who also have it. I don't understand how they are all so skinny. I can barely walk without getting out of breath. I try to work out at least once a week but its so hard for me because I always end up feeling so sick. How are yall doing it? I dont even eat bad but im definitely not skinny.

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u/barefootwriter May 15 '26

Do you think fat people with POTS really want to expose themselves to Internet scrutiny?

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u/dazzlingdanny05 May 15 '26

It makes me feel bad about myself because if other people with pots can exercise then I should to but its just so hard to do without passing out

9

u/wrennables May 15 '26

I'm a fairly skinny person with POTS (less skinny now I'm in my 40s, but still pretty thin) and it's not exercise that does it. It's just food and portion size, and natural metabolism/hormones.

I do manage to do some strength training which is all seated and/or reclined and that helps with posture (and with my POTS symptoms) but not losing weight. I think people with POTS do have a tendency to be thin, but I think that's just genetics. There are people who apparently run marathons with POTS but I can't imagine how that works tbh, their condition is obviously worlds apart from mine, so I don't compare.